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Even though its been close to two years since I played this game, I still remember it rather clearly. It's got some fantastic and vivid characterization. For instance, the closing lines in battle change depending on the plot situation, and it has several cutscenes of the variety where you don't know what the hell is going on or who the people are, but there are plenty of colorful people talking in mysteries all around. The overall plot, characters and feel is very blue sky and close to one of my favorites, Skies of Arcadia, as well. The Wild Arms treat of dungeons well weaved and kneaded into the dough of the game with visuals, puzzles, appropriate monsters and environmental quirks to make them soak into your consciousness and stay there grounded in pleasant memory. It has something I always love in RPGs and that's that a great deal of the environment can be examined like a point and click adventure game for comment by the protagonist, which really ups the prose style of the game and its atmosphere. Despite the fact that it's on the aging PS2 hardware, the overworld had by turns misty valleys soaked in ethereal quality and lit by otherworldly light. Orange sunset-colored canyons that dip and veer and veen off into the horizon as far as the eye can see. Mines and caves that call to mind not just the visual of rust and decay, but the feel and motion of it as well. And the clean lines and colors of the character design bring a crisp and sensible aesthetic to the illustration of their motions and personality. Better yet, because battles always revive your HP after each one, the developers can afford to make the enemies tough enough to kill you in every fight if you're not careful. This means that unlike other Wild Arms games, battles don't languish occasionally, but remain as fresh and invigorating a source of interest in the game as when you are just discovering in the opening hours. The boss battles with their modified battlefields are a joy to think through as well. Wild Arms: Fifth Vanguard comes highly recommended, to me, it's the best, most balanced game since the first one. |
Wild Arms 5 • Page 4
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JinTypeNoir 4,368 posts
Seen 7 years ago
Registered 16 years ago -
Prehensile_Plant 420 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 16 years agoMy order from www.gameconnection.co.uk turned up this morning. \o/
No plans to play it yet. but glad I have it. -
Fayt 14 posts
Seen 10 years ago
Registered 16 years agoGot the game game from the Amazon Markeplace and am enjoying it, but just wondering if anyone else has encountered any slowdown in the battles? -
HeeroMasaki 9 posts
Seen 14 years ago
Registered 14 years agonot long ordered mine from Play.com's PlayTrade. got the last one thats on there at the moment so very lucky with that.
should hopefully get it in 3-4 days.
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HeeroMasaki 9 posts
Seen 14 years ago
Registered 14 years agokissthestick wrote:
60hz included
, played it for two hours voice actings ok nothing special but i thought it was tolerable, battle system all though turnbased and uses the same hex system as WA4 it works really quite well and fast. Battle/Boss music is great too and the graphics are clean and colourful so its pretty easy on the eyes.
I think I know the answer to this anyway from the US version but I thought I'd ask anyway is the opening song 'Justice to Believe' from the JPN and US versions? -
Scimarad 9,965 posts
Seen 16 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoWild Arms 5 really does have a great soundtrack. No disrespect to Michiko Naruke but 4 & 5 have both been excellent and a lot more varied than your average WA soundtrack. -
Aretak 10,391 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 19 years agoAnyone know if it works on a PS3? WA4 crashes every 10 minutes in 60hz mode, and is squished and slow in 50hz. 
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HeeroMasaki 9 posts
Seen 14 years ago
Registered 14 years agoAretak wrote:
Anyone know if it works on a PS3? WA4 crashes every 10 minutes in 60hz mode, and is squished and slow in 50hz.
Oh! I'd love to know that too. becasue if not I'm going to have to break out my slimline PS2. -
I'd love to know how come Amazon and GAME and Gameplay and Play are all still waiting for copies of this, yet tin-pot little internet resellers and tiny shops manned by a single goat are apparently having no trouble at all. -
Okay, if anyone's still looking for a copy they're in stock at PowerplayDirect for £22.49 a pop. I've cancelled my obviously-never-coming Amazon order and grabbed one from there instead, which has already progressed to 'picking'. Use voucher code 'PP-02-DISCOUNT' for another 50pee or so off, although I dunno if that only works if you're using Quidco.
Edit: And despatched! \o/ -
neonemesis 1,647 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 14 years agoI've been thinking about getting into this series for a while now but was put off by reading on wikipedia about the 4th game crashing on 50hz tvs. Does this always happen? (I don't have a 60hz tv). If it is playable, i'll get into the series! -
I seem to remember there's just one particular place that crashes in 50hz in WA4 - the FAQ should be able to tell you where it is and if it happens every time. Is your telly really old? I'm amazed there are still boxes out there that can't handle 60hz. -
Aretak 10,391 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 19 years agoPost deleted -
neonemesis 1,647 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 14 years agoBlerk wrote:
I seem to remember there's just one particular place that crashes in 50hz in WA4 - the FAQ should be able to tell you where it is and if it happens every time. Is your telly really old? I'm amazed there are still boxes out there that can't handle 60hz.
its not old, its just one of those small ones, not a full size telly. I used to think it could do 60hz when certain games worked when selecting the option but i soon found out the truth when i booted up soulcalibur 3 in '60hz' and the intro was black and white until i switched it to 50hz mode. i want to play it but i don't want a whole new telly just to do so... -
neonemesis wrote:
That just sounds like you don't have a fully wired SCART cable, or your telly's SCART socket doesn't support RGB. Are you using the right cables? You have to use a fully-wired cable to display NTSC.
Blerk wrote:
I seem to remember there's just one particular place that crashes in 50hz in WA4 - the FAQ should be able to tell you where it is and if it happens every time. Is your telly really old? I'm amazed there are still boxes out there that can't handle 60hz.
its not old, its just one of those small ones, not a full size telly. I used to think it could do 60hz when certain games worked when selecting the option but i soon found out the truth when i booted up soulcalibur 3 in '60hz' and the intro was black and white until i switched it to 50hz mode. i want to play it but i don't want a whole new telly just to do so... -
neonemesis 1,647 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 14 years agoBlerk wrote:
neonemesis wrote:
That just sounds like you don't have a fully wired SCART cable, or your telly's SCART socket doesn't support RGB. Are you using the right cables? You have to use a fully-wired cable to display NTSC.
Blerk wrote:
I seem to remember there's just one particular place that crashes in 50hz in WA4 - the FAQ should be able to tell you where it is and if it happens every time. Is your telly really old? I'm amazed there are still boxes out there that can't handle 60hz.
its not old, its just one of those small ones, not a full size telly. I used to think it could do 60hz when certain games worked when selecting the option but i soon found out the truth when i booted up soulcalibur 3 in '60hz' and the intro was black and white until i switched it to 50hz mode. i want to play it but i don't want a whole new telly just to do so...
I just have the scart cable that came with the ps2. I'm not really in the know about different cables and stuff so if someone could tell me... -
Aretak 10,391 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 19 years agoneonemesis wrote:
Then you don't have an RGB SCART cable. Go on eBay or Amazon Marketplace and search for an RGB PS2 SCART cable (or a PS3 one, or a PSone one since they're all the same connection). That'll let you play in colour in 60hz.
Blerk wrote:
I just have the scart cable that came with the ps2. I'm not really in the know about different cables and stuff so if someone could tell me...
neonemesis wrote:
That just sounds like you don't have a fully wired SCART cable, or your telly's SCART socket doesn't support RGB. Are you using the right cables? You have to use a fully-wired cable to display NTSC.
Blerk wrote:
its not old, its just one of those small ones, not a full size telly. I used to think it could do 60hz when certain games worked when selecting the option but i soon found out the truth when i booted up soulcalibur 3 in '60hz' and the intro was black and white until i switched it to 50hz mode. i want to play it but i don't want a whole new telly just to do so...
I seem to remember there's just one particular place that crashes in 50hz in WA4 - the FAQ should be able to tell you where it is and if it happens every time. Is your telly really old? I'm amazed there are still boxes out there that can't handle 60hz. -
neonemesis 1,647 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 14 years agoAretak wrote:
neonemesis wrote:
Then you don't have an RGB SCART cable. Go on eBay or Amazon Marketplace and search for an RGB PS2 SCART cable (or a PS3 one, or a PSone one since they're all the same connection). That'll let you play in colour in 60hz.
Blerk wrote:
I just have the scart cable that came with the ps2. I'm not really in the know about different cables and stuff so if someone could tell me...
neonemesis wrote:
That just sounds like you don't have a fully wired SCART cable, or your telly's SCART socket doesn't support RGB. Are you using the right cables? You have to use a fully-wired cable to display NTSC.
Blerk wrote:
its not old, its just one of those small ones, not a full size telly. I used to think it could do 60hz when certain games worked when selecting the option but i soon found out the truth when i booted up soulcalibur 3 in '60hz' and the intro was black and white until i switched it to 50hz mode. i want to play it but i don't want a whole new telly just to do so...
I seem to remember there's just one particular place that crashes in 50hz in WA4 - the FAQ should be able to tell you where it is and if it happens every time. Is your telly really old? I'm amazed there are still boxes out there that can't handle 60hz.
right, will do. Cheers for the info. maybe i'll try and find WA4 while i'm at it depending on how much it goes for... -
You'll find the picture's much better in 50hz too. It's a win-win thing. -
neonemesis 1,647 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 14 years agoBlerk wrote:
You'll find the picture's much better in 50hz too. It's a win-win thing.
don't you mean 60hz? -
Aretak 10,391 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 19 years agoneonemesis wrote:
No, he means that picture quality in 50hz will be improved as well. An RGB SCART cable is just superior all-round.
Blerk wrote:
don't you mean 60hz?
You'll find the picture's much better in 50hz too. It's a win-win thing. -
Prehensile_Plant 420 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 16 years agoI prefered WA3 to WA4. I realise that this comment has no place here, but the thought of a newcomer to the series thinking of starting with 4 makes me have to comment.
I found the characterisation in 4 to be really weak and I missed the chance to explore on the overworld map. If you can find 3 (and lots of places have it going for reasonable amounts of cash) I'd invest in that.
Mind, many people think the opposite. Ah, the internet and opinions eh? -
Agent_Llama 3,691 posts
Seen 15 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoMine's been dispatched from Game. Like I actually have time to play it. -
toy_brain 1,255 posts
Seen 8 months ago
Registered 17 years agoI have my copy on order from an Amazon seller, so fingers crossed they deliver as I dont think its going to get much easier to find.
In the meantime Im finishing off Wild Arms 4. I think I'm pretty much in the final hours of the game as I can now go anywhere on the map and reach all the previously inacessable parts of the levels.
Its good stuff, and I keep wondering why I left it for so long in the first place, though did anyone else find their entire battle tactic revolved around Raquelle? She just seems stupidly overpowered in comparrison to everyone else. -
HeeroMasaki 9 posts
Seen 14 years ago
Registered 14 years agoWoo got my copy today!
and am very happy about it! -
Aretak 10,391 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 19 years agoOdd that Amazon haven't had any in yet. They're still letting people order it though, so they must be expecting some at some point. -
HeeroMasaki 9 posts
Seen 14 years ago
Registered 14 years agoAretak wrote:
Odd that Amazon haven't had any in yet. They're still letting people order it though, so they must be expecting some at some point.
I wouldn't hold your breath to be honest considering 505 Games' track record.
and for you PS3 users it does NOT currenly work on PS3, I played for about 30 mins and suddenly Dean got stuck going forward before the game crashed.
Break out your PS2s!
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Aretak 10,391 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 19 years agoHeeroMasaki wrote:
Yep, WA4 crashes in exactly the same way.
and for you PS3 users it does NOT currenly work on PS3, I played for about 30 mins and suddenly Dean got stuck going forward before the game crashed.
Break out your PS2s! -
Abscido 641 posts
Seen 7 years ago
Registered 19 years agoThis is an absolutely wonderful game, although the battle system takes a long time to get going. 20 hours, in fact. The music is the best of the series yet and the graphics have really taken me by surprise, excellent stuff.
Reminds me most of Skies of Arcadia in terms of feel and scope.
As for PS3 questions - I'm playing the American version on a debug PS3 and it's perfect, upscales beautifully and smoothens out nicely to boot. Probably not much good to anyone, though, as I'm not sure if the PS3 debug emulates or not. Considering FXII wouldn't work, I'd imagine it's an emulator though.
Anyway, anyone who's a fan of WA1-3 will love this game. I didn't play 4. -
My copy turned up from PowerPlay on Saturday and it's actually a really impressive package - full colour manual, 60hz mode, etc. etc. Quite why 505 go to all this trouble and then forget to actually send it to the shops, I have no fucking idea.
, played it for two hours voice actings ok nothing special but i thought it was tolerable, battle system all though turnbased and uses the same hex system as WA4 it works really quite well and fast. Battle/Boss music is great too and the graphics are clean and colourful so its pretty easy on the eyes. 
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